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A BIOGEAPHICAL REVIEW 



MILITARY AND CIYIL SERVICES 



MAJOR GEN'L W. S. HANCOCK, 



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MAJOR GENERAL VINFIELD 8, HANCOCK. 



The bold pronilnfuci; which the name of this distinguished otiicer and states- 
man has assumed before the country in connection with the approaching Presi- 
dential nomination at New York, calls for an impartial review of his merits and 
litness for that high position. No man has claims upon the Presidency, but the 
people have claims upon such as nature and experience designate as eminently 
((ualified for that great ottic(!. It cannot be doubted that a large majority of tlie 
American peojMe are at this time dcf'jdy and intensely opposed to the revolution- 
ary and destructive policy of the Kadical party, and that tJie man who can com- 
bine, concentrate and harmonize this opposition in all its strengtli will, if nom- 
inated on the 4th of July, be easily and triumphantly elected. Nor is this a 
time for personal preferences or for i)ersonal favorites. He who cannot rise 
wholly niid entirely above such considerations, in view of the imminent peril of 
all the insiiUitions of civil liberty, deceives himself if he supposes that he is a 
patriot .iiiil truly loves his country. Th(i success of the representatives of Rad- 
icalism ill the approaching election is the death knell of this government as 
one of distributed powers and constitutional freedom. 

In this view of the national situation public attention has recently been pow- 
erfully attracted to the gentleman whose name heads this article. Prudent 
and correct thinkers behold in him a rare combination of the most brilliant 
military achievements, with sound, reliable statesmanship in civil affairs. His 
ability has been fully tested in both spheres of action, and his record W'ill bear 
the closest scrutiny, and becomes brighter under intelligent investigation. He 
has been most fortunate in the opjioitunities of his life. They came to him 
during the war and since its close, and have enaliled him to show his country- 
men what manner of man he is, and how safely they can rely upon his adher- 
ence to the Constitution and his executive force in carrAang out his convictions. 

General Hancock was born in Montgomery C'onnty, Pennsyh ania, Febru- 
ary 24th, tH'24. He is therefore in his forty-fiftli year, iind in the full i)rime of 
his mental and phj^sical ]iowers. 

In this age of democratic id<>as it is usually regarded of small consequence to 
trace the ancestry of a distinguished man. His own deeds and principles an 
his passports, but it is very agreeable in this in.stance to know that General 
Hancock sjirings from most excellent Kevolutionary blood, his paternal and 
maternal grandfathers both having been otliccrs in the war for American Inde- 
pendence, and one of them having laid in an English prison during a great part 
of that- protracted struggle. Their descendant has amply shown that he inherits 
the love of liberty by which they were animated. 

We will briefly tracer General Ha^'cock's career up to the breaking out of the 
rebellion in 1801, when he comes (|iiickly to the front rank of commanders. 

In 1S40 he entered the Military Academy at West Point ant! graduateil in 
1844, being thereujion appointed a Second fiieutenant in the ttth Infantiy. He 
accomi)anied his regiment a few years after to ^[exico, and at the battle of 
Cherubusco was promoted to the rank of First Licaitenaut for "gallant and mer- 
itorious conduct." He served during the entire war, and was engaged in the 
battles of Molino-del-Rey and the C'ity of Mexico as the Adjutant of his Bat- 
talion. 

From the close of the Mexican war until 1801 he served, with various pro- 
motions, in the Quartermaster's Department, ■•and fl e late civil war found him 
on duty in ("aiifornia. From there he reported in Aiurust to the (Quartermaster 
General in jierson at Washington, and was at once a.->igiK(l lo liuty as C'hi«'f 
Quartermaster of the Armv of Kentucky. On the 'S.k] day of September, how- 
ever, he was apjiointed a Brigadier General of Volunteers and assigned to the 
command of the first brigade of Smitii's Division of the Army of the Potomac, 
liis brigade consisting of the 5th Wisconsin, 6th Maine, 4i)th Pennsylvania, 
and 43d New York volunteers. 



3 

Here commenced that glorious career which lias made the nariie of Winkield 
"•S!; Hancock imperishable in American history. Whether commanding bri- 
gades, divisions, corj)s, or an army, at times numbering from forty to sixty 
thousand men in battle, his ability was always consummate, and his personal 
bearing and intrepidity of that exalted and chiv;drons tj-pc which always ltd 
his men in the time of danger, and made him their idol. While other oflRcei's 
were conspicuous in their success in shedding the blood of their troops. General 
Hancock mingled his own with that of his devoted followers. He commanded 
in front rather tlian in the rear, and never ordered his men to encounter a peril 
which he did not share. 

We here will jjive a bare summary of his vast services during the war, com- 
mencing with the battle of Lee's Mills, Virginia, under McClelhni, April Ki, 
lHfi2, and the subsequent operations before Yorktown, which resulted in the 
evacuation of that line by the enemy, M;iy 4, 1862. 

At the battle of Williamsburg General Hancock had a separate and detached 
connnand of five (')) regiments of infantry and two batteries of artillery. The 
enemy attacked his forces on the evening of the oth of May, after they had re- 
pulsed the assault of General Hooker's forces on our left of Fort Magruder. 
The}^ were driven routed from the field after a tierce contest, with a loss of 
about seven hundred (700) men, killed, wounded, and. prisoners. One stand 
of colors was also captured. This defeat of the eneni}'' bj' the troops of General 
Hancock's command closed the fighting at Williamsburg, and it is believed 
decided the enemy to abandon the position on the night of tlie 5th and fith of May. 

General Hancock commanded the troops engaged at the battle of Garnett's 
Hill, on the right bank of the Chickahomony, June 27, 1862. Repulsed the 
enemy, who having defeated our forces on the left bank at Gaines' Mills, were 
endeavoring to march down the right bank and seize the bridges. 

Was engaged with his brigade in the action at Golding's Farm, June 28th, at 
Savage's Station, June 29th, and at White Oak Swamp, June 80, 1862. 

Commanded his brigade during the battle of Antietam, September 17, 1862, 
until the afternoon, when he was placed in command of the 1st Division Second 
Armj' Corps by Major General McClellan, then commanding Army of the Po- 
tomac in person, General Kichardson, commanding 1st Division Second (^orps, 
having been mortally wounded in the earlj' part of the daj'. This Division 
stormed and carried a portion of the enemy's line at Antietam, capturing eleven 
stand of colors, a large number of prisoners, and several thousand stand of 
small arms. 

Promoted to the rank of Major General of United States volunteers, Novem- 
ber 29, 1863. " " ■ 

Commanded the 1st Division of the '2(1 Corps at the battle of Fredericksburg, 
December 13, 1862. 

This Division participated in the assault made that day on Marias' Heights, 
losing two thousand and fourteen (2,014) men out of five thou.sand (5,000) 
taken into battle. 

Commanded the same Division at the Battle of Chancellorsville, May 1st, 
2d and 3d, 1863, and tiie rear-guard when the army retreated from that field. 
Had his horse shot under him in that battle. 

Relieved Major General Couch of the command of the Second Army Corps, 
Army of the Potomac, on the 10th of June, 1S63. 

Assigned permanently to the command of the Second Army Corps, by the 
President of the United States, June 25, 1863. 

July 1st, 1863, Major General Meade, Commanding Armj'' of the Potomac, 
after he had learned of the death of General Reynolds, directed General Han- 
cock to assume command of the troops engaged with the enemy on the field of 
Gettysburg, 1st, 3d and 11th Corps. 

Commanded the right centre of the Army at Gettysburg, July 2d and 3d. 
His troops received and repulsed the grand final assault made by the enemy at 
Gettysburg on the evening of the 3d of July, where he fell very dangerously 
wounded at the moment of the enemy's repulse and our great victory. During 
this terrible battle General Hancock's command captured thirty-seven (37) 
stands of colors, five thousand (5,000) ])iisoners, an I ;ibout fifteen tliousand 
'(15,000) stands of small arms. ' 

Absent from his command in the field in consequence of his wound and .spe- 
cial duties, until the spring of 1864, when he resumed command of the Second 
Corps, relieving Major-General Warren. 



In commanri of the 2d Corps and portions of'the 5th, 6th and 9th Corps at 
the battle of Wilderness, May fjth, 6th and 7th, 1864. 

Commanded 2d and 5th Corps at the Battles of the Po and Spottsylvania, 
May 10th, 1864. 

May 12th, 1864, stormed the enemy's works at Spottsylvania with the 2d Army 
Corps, capturing thirty (80) stands of colors, four thousand (4,000) prisoners — 
among whom were Major Gi^neral Edward. Johnson and Brigadier General 
Gto. H. Stewart, of the liebel service, twenty (20) pieces of Artillt-ry, and many 
thousand stands of small arms. In command of the 2d Corps at Spottsylvania, 
May 18th, 1864, when Eweil's Corps of the enemy attacked Tyler's Division, 
on the Fredericksburg road, in front of Spottsylvania. The enemy's attack 
was repulsed with severe loss to him in killed, wounded and prisoners. 

Conimanding 2d Corps at the battle of North Anna, Va., May 23d, 1864, 
carrying by assault the enemy's works which covered the bridge across the rivei. 

In command of the 2d Corps during the operations on the Tolopotomy, May 
29th to June 2d, 1864, and at the Battle of Cold Harbor, June 3d, 1864. 

Commanded the 2d Corps in the battles before Petersbuig, Va., from June 
15th to 17th, when he was compelled to relinquish command on account of dis- 
ability trom his wound received at Gettysburg. 

Resumed command June 27th, 1864. 

Fought the lir^t battle at Deep Bottom, on the north bank of the James River, 
with the 2d Corps and Sheridan's Cavalry, July 27th, 1864, driving the enemy 
from the works and capturing four (4) pieces of Artillery. 

Commanded tlie forces engaged in the operations at Deep Bottom, August 
13th to the 20th, 1864, (2d and 10th Corps, and Gregg's Division of Cavalry.) 

Fought the Battle of Ream's Station with two Divisions of the 2d Corps and 
Gregg^s Division of Cavalry, Augu.-t 2r)th, 1864. Had his horse shot under 
him while leading his troops against the enemy's line. 

Pron)oted to the rank of Biigadier General in the Regular Army, August 
12tii, 1864. 

Fought the Battle of Boydton's Plank Road with two Divisions of the 2d 
Corps and Gregg's Cavalry, October 27th, 1804, driving the enemy trom the 
field, capturing one thousand (i,000) prisomrs and two (2) stands of colors. 

February 26ih IHdS : By order ot the President of the United States, assumed 
command of the Middle Military D vision (including the Department of West 
Virginia, Department of Pennsylvania, the Department of W ashington, the 
Army of the Shenandoah, 6:c.) A movable tor' e of thirtj'-tive thousand 
(3."),()00) men of (ill arms was at once oig;inizi(l for the purjiose ot moving upon 
Lynchburg when the campaign opened, but the surrender of Lee's Army and the 
capture of Richmond removed the necessity for an advance of a large army in 
that direction. 

Brevetted Major General in the United States arm}-, to date from March 13th, 

1865, for gallant and meritoiious services at the Battle of Spottsylvania. 
A.H.signed to the conimand ot the Middle Military Department, July 20th, 

1866. 'Headquarters iit Baltimore, IMaryland. 

Joint resolution of Congress, expressive of the unanimous thanks of Congress 
to Major General W. S. Hancock, for his share in the Battle of Gett.\ sburg : 

"And tlie tliiinks of their K( j)re.s( ntalives in Congress ure likewise due and are 
hereby tendered to Major Gi neral Winfikld Scott Hancock, ior his gal- 
lant, meritorious and cdnspieuous share m that great and decisive victory." 
Approved May 80th, 1866. 

Apjiointed Major General U. S. Army July 26th, 1866, vice Sherman apiwint- 
ed Li( utenant Gc neral. 

Relinquished cou'mand of the Middle Military Department, and assumed 
command of the Department of tlie Missouri, by order from the War Depart- 
ment, dated Wasliimton, D. C, August Gtli, 1866. 

Relinquished command of the Department of the Missouri, September 12, 
18G7, and assumed command of the Fifth Military District and Department of 
the Gulf, Headquarters at New Orlesins, La., by order of the President. 

RelintiUished command of the Fifth Military District (Department of the 
Gulf,) Marcii lOth, 1868. 

As.siimed command of the Military Division of the Atlantic (composed of the 
Deparlments of Washington, the E:ist, and the Li kes,) March 3L^t, 1868. 

Thus will be seen the great extent of General Hakcock's actual services in 



the field ; and the proudest marshals of Napoleon might gladly boast of such 
a record. 

General Hancock could easily have attained the command of the Army of 
the Potomac at any time after McClellan was removed by pandering to the 
politics in Washington, which alwnys hung like a cloud over that long suffering 
army. He did not do so, liowever, and he was no petted favorite of the author- 
ities; and all he obtained in the way of promotion and honors was won by the 
hardest fighting and the most unremitted attention to his duties. By this 
course, however, his uame became a .synonym throughout the country for all 
that was brave and daring in action, and wise and safe in council. Thus it was 
that the thanks of Congress, and, tinaliy, his pre.sent high position, were con- 
ceded to him, and not from any of the arts of a compljnng politician. 

We give a few striking ineidents and facts connected with Gen. Hancock's 
brilliant and substantial services at Gettysburg, the Wilderness, and Spottsylva- 
nia, those greatest engagements of moilern times. Tiiey will go far to illustrate 
his character, and al.so the claims he has to the gratitude of Ids countrymen. 

On the 1st day of July, 180;^ the tight iit Gettysburg was commenced by 
the First and Eleventh Corps with Bulord's cavahy, under command of Gene- 
ral Reynolds. General Hancock, commanding Second Corps, was then at 
Uniontown, but moved ui) to Tanj-town the same morning, where Gen. Meade 
then was. About noon of the 1st of Julj'^, General Meade received word of 
General Reynolds' death. He sent at once tor General Hancock and directed 
him to proceed to the battle-field and assume eommand of all the forces there. 
When General Hancock arrived upon the field he relieved General Howard of 
the command, in accordance with General Meade's iu.structions, although Gen- 
eral Howard was his senior. At that moment the greater portion of our troops 
were in full retreat through the town of Gettysburg, with the encnij^ jjursuing. 
General Hancock directed that all should halt and reform upon Cemetery Hill. 
Many of them were passing beyond Cemetery Hill and marching down the Bal- 
timore pike. These were recalled and placed in line of battle on Cemeferj^ 
Hill. In this manner the advance of the enemy wan checked. Troops were 
ncnt to occupy " Gulp's IlilV^ and ''■Bound, Top,'' and the general line of battle 
was taken on which the fight was made during the two succeeding days. 

A message was immediately sent by General Hancock to General Meade to 
the effect that he (General Hancock) considered Gettysburg, the line he then 
held, the proper place to fight our battle with Lee, and advising General Meade 
to order our entire army to that point. 

July 2d, at Gettysburg, General Hancock commanded the right centre of our 
army, and repuLsed the assault made by the enemy on the Third Army Corps, 
by which that corps was broken and compelled to retire. He also assumed 
command of the Third Corps after General Sickles was wounded. 

July 3d, the troops under General Hancock received and repulsed the grand 
assault made by Lee on our line by a column of the enemy 18,000 strong. This 
was one of the most desperate and bloody assaults made during the war, and 
its repulse decided the battle of Gettysburg in our favor. The enemy retreated 
that night ! Five thou.sand prisoners, 37 colors, and many thousand stand of 
small arms, were captured by our troops. 

While leading a line of battle against the enemy on that occasion. General 
Hancock received a most dangerous wound, and fell from his horse at the mo- 
ment of our victory. His life was despaired of for man}"^ months. 

When General Meade received word from General Hancock, on the 3d of 
July, that the enemy's attack had been repulsed, and that the victory was ours, 
he returned the following message to General Hancock : " Say to General Han- 
cock that I regret exceedingly that he is wounded, and that I thank him for the 
country and for mj'self for the services he has rendered to-daj'." 

At the Battle of the " Wilderness," May 5-6, 1864, under General Grant,. 
General Hancock commanded about 60,000 men ; his own corps — Second and 
Third consolidated — and portions of the Fifth, Sixth and Ninth. He attacked 
the enemy there at 4.30 p. m., on the evening of the 5th of May, and continued 
the battle until dark; renewed'it the next morning at daybreak, and was en- 
gaged nearl}' the whole of the 6th. The enemy withdrew on the night of the 
7th. The troops under General Hancock bore the great brunt of the fighting 
of that battle. 

May 12th, 1864, General Hancock assaulted the enemy's intrenched lines at 
" Spottsylvania," and carried thtm with the Second Corps, (then composed of 



the Second and old Third Corps consolidated,) capturing 4,000 prisoners, among 
whom were Major General Edward Johnson and "Brigadier General George 
Stewart of the Rebel service, 20 pieces of artillery, about 30 colors, and several 
thousand stand of small arms. Tliis was decidedly the most brilliant feat of 
arms performed by the Army of the Potomac during the campaign of ls(i4, and 
had it taken place" separatelj' from the otlier battles of that campaign, it would 
have been considered one of the most decisive battles of the war. 

General Hancock took part in all of the battles of the Wilderness campaign, 
notwithstanding his sufferings from the wound received at Gettysburg, and 
remained with the Army of "the Potomac, in command of tlie Second Corps 
until November, 1864. 

We have thus laid before the reader enough of the military conduct of Gene- 
ral Hancock to stamp him as one of the greatest commanders of this military 
period ; but he has even yet a higher and more enduring claim upon the friends 
of free governm<nit than that which he won with his sword on so manj" hard 
fought fields. He who knows how to save a country by the sword, if needs be, 
and then how to govern it in time of peace, according to laws made for peaceful 
times, is doubly a hero. All history teaches that they who conquer with the 
sword are but too prone to govern with the sword. The habits, ideas, and prac- 
tices of war too often accompany the successful military chieftain into his man- 
agement and control of c'vil affairs. Thus have liberties been lost in all ages, 
and free governments destroyed But the occasion was only needed to enable Gen- 
eral Hancock to show to the world that he was in the highest sense of the term a 
a pure and enlightened statesman as well as military chieftain. That occasion 
came ; and on Uie 29th day of November, 1867, in obedience to orders, he took 
command of what is styled, in the wretched h^gislation of the times, the Fifth 
Military District, comprising the States of Louisiana and Te.x:as. The place of 
his head([uarters was auspicious. New Orleans was once before the theatre on 
whicli a soldier Avon immortal honors by sustaining and upholding the civil laws 
of his country in the midst of martial I'ule. The defeat of the British at New 
Orleans tstablished the position of Andrew Jackson as a great commander, but 
his respect for law, and his obedience to its mandates in the hour of his triumpli, 
showed that he was fit to be President, and more tlian all else accomplished that 
result. 

The public mind will recall the circumstances under which General Hancock 
assumed this command. The military government of the South was enacted by 
Congress for the avowed purpose of depriving all that region of all rights 
belonging to American citizens, except such as the various ofhcers in command 
might concede. Ev^'ry previous Commander had aided by all the means in 
his power to increase the severity of this Congressional despotism by its harsh 
and arbitrary enforcement. The Constitution had been destroj^ed in ten States, 
and ever}' cherished principle of liberty was stricken down. In the midst of 
this universal death and prostration of lih(>rty, law and per.sonal rights, Gene- 
ral Hancock's famous Order No. 40 rang out upon the astonished and delighted 
country like a new Declaration of Independence, and like the trumpet call of 
resurrection to a lost and ruined Constitution. He who at sttch a time and under 
such circumstances, his victoriou'^ sword in his hand, with unlimited power at 
his command, and flushed with triumph over this very people, could issue such 
an order, necessarily and inevitablj' ranks himself as one of the great men of the 
world, and one of the benefactors of the human race. We copy it here in full. 
It has been often published, but it should be kept standing in the columns of 
every paper devoted to the supremacy of the Constitution : 

"[Gkneral Ordkrs Xo. 40.] 

" Hkadquaktek-s Fifth Military District, 

" Nkw Orleans, La., Noremhcr 29, 1867. 

"I. In accordance with General Orders No. 81, Headquarters of the Army, 
Adjutant General's Office, Washington, I). C, August 27th, 1807, 3Iajor General 
W. S. Hancock hereby assumes eominand of the Fifth ^Military District, and of 
the Department composed of the States of Louisiana and Texas. 

" II. The General Comiuanding is gratified to learn that peace and quiet reign 
in this Dejiartment. It will be his ])urj)ose to preserve this condition of thing.s. 
As a niean.s to this great end he regards the maintenance of tlie civil authorities 
in the faithful execution of the laws, as the most efficient, under existing circum- 
stances. 



" In war it is indisjicueable to repel force by force, iind overthrow and destroy 
<)pposition to lawful authority. But when insurrectionary force has been over- 
thrown, and peace established, and the civil authorities are ready and willing to 
perform their duties, the military power should cease to lead, and the civil admin- 
istration resuTne its natural and ric;htful dominion. Solemnly impressed with 
these views, the (Tcneral announces that the great priiiciples of American liberty 
still are the lawful inheritance of this j)eople, and ever should be. The right of 
trial by jury, the Haboa.«i Corjuis, the liberty of tlie jiress, the freedom of speech, 
and the natural rights of persons and the rights of property must be preserved. 

" Pree institutions, while they are essential to the prosperity and ha]»piness of 
the ]H>ople, always furnish the strongest inducements to peace and order. Crimes 
and otfcnces committed in this District must be referred to the consideration and 
judgment of tiie regular civil tribunals, and those tribunals will be sujijiorted in 
their lawful jurisdiction. 

" Should there be violations of existing laws which are not ini]uired into by 
th(^ civil magistrates, or should failui-e^ in the administration of justice by the 
courts be complained of, the cases will be re])orted to these Headquarters, when 
such orders will be made as may be deemed necessary. 

" While the General thus indicates his j)ur]iose to respect the liberties of the 
peo]>le. he wishes all to understand that armed insurrections or forcible resistance 
to the law will be instantly suppressed by arms. 

•• By CdUimand of ]V[aj()r General W. S. Hancock: 

'' VV. G. MITCHELL, 
" Bvt. Lieut. Col.. Act'g Ass't Atlj't Genenil 

No nobler platform was ever written in this or any other land on which to 
stand and appeal to freemen for their sutfrages, than the two brief sentences in 
this great and lofty paper : 

"The right of trial by jury, the Habeas Corpus, the liberty of the pre.ss, the 
" freedom of speech and (he natural rights of persons and the rights of jiroperty 
" must be preserved. Pree institutions, while th(!y are essential to the ]>rosperity 
" and hajiyiiness of the people, always furnish the strongest inducements to peace 
" and onler.'" 

In that short space is embraced the spirit and the letter of the Constitution 
and the philosophy of free Government. When General Hancock promulgated 
these seutimeuls, he wrote his own name forever in the atiections of those who 
love and appreciate the great muniments of legal liberty. The brain that con- 
ceived them, and the heart that inspired their execittiou, in the face of a lawless 
desperate and dominating faction in power, can most safely be intrusted witli 
the Chief Magistracy of the whole couutrj". 

On the great and overshadowing question of the restoration of the Southern 
States, however, General Hancock was still more specific and clear in his cel- 
ebrated letter of March Dth, 1868, to Govern ^r Pease of Te.vas. For compre- 
hensive statesmanship and great abilit}-, this letter is one of the most extra or- 
^linary productions that has appeared 'since the war. It is full of the ripest 
wisdom !ind the highest patriotism, and should be kept prominently before the 
public mind. In after years it will be quoted uy the historian as a landmark of 
liberty, standing out boldly in the midst of a general tendency to despotism. 
We have seen no statement of the question equal in power to that which we 
here quote from this model paper : 

'• it is rather more than hinted in your letter, that there ie no local State Gov- 
ernment in Tc.'ca.s, and no local laws outside of the Acts of Congress, which I 
ought to respect; and that J sliould undertake to protect the rights of pers(ms and 
properly in wy/. oicn wau, and in an urbUrnry manner. If such be your mean- 
ing, I ain compelled to differ with you,. Alter the abolition of slavery, (an event 
which I hojie no ijue now n.'grets,) ilie laws of Louisiana and Ti'xas, existing 
prior to thi.' rebellion, not in conflict with tin? Acts of Congress, comjjrised a vast 
system of juri^prud^'uc", both civil and criminal. It re(iuired not volumes only, 
but libraries to contain them. .They laid down principles and precedents for ascei- 
taiuing .the rights and adjusting the controversies of men in every conceivable 
case. ,f.Tl)ey vyeretln^ creations of great and good and learned men, who had 
labored in thcy^r day fof th[eir Jdjad, and gone down to the grave long before our 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

recent troubles, leaving their works an inestimabk « oii-a 7Pi0 296 6 ^m 
These laws, as I am informed, connected the cirilizal ^ WlO 'W ^F 

and testified of the justice, wisdom, humanity and ])atriotism of more than one 
nation, through whose records they descended to the present people of these 
•States. I am satisfied, from representations of persons competent to judge, they 
are as perfect a system of laws as may he found elsewhere ; and better suited than 
any other to the condition of this people, for by them they have long been gov- 
erned. Why should it be supj)osed Congress has abolished these laws? Why 
should any one wish to abolish them ? They have committed no treason ; nor are 
hostile to thi- United States; nor countenance crime; nor favor injustice. On 
them, as on a foundation of rock, reposes almost the (mtire superstruction of social 
order in these two Slates. Annul this code of local laws, and there would be no 
longer any rights, either of person or property here. Abolish the local tribunals 
made to execute tlunn, and you would virtually annul the laws, except in reference 
to the very few cases cognizable in the Federal courts. Let us, for a moment, sup- 
pose the local civil code annulled ; and that I am left, as Commander of the Fifth 
Military District, the sole fountain of law and justice. This is the position in 
which you would place ipe. 

" I am now to protect all rights, and redress all wrongs. How is it possible for 
me to di) it? Innumerable questions arise, of which I am hot only ignorant, but 
to th(! solution of which a military court is entirely unfitted. One would establish 
a will, another a deed; or the question is one of succession, or parLnersliip, or 
descent, or trust; a suit of ejectment, or claim to chattels; or the application may 
relate to robbery, theft, arson, or murder. How am I to take the first step in 
any such matter? If I turn to the acts of Congress, I find nothing on the sub- 
j> ject. I dare not op-n the authors on the local code, for it hiis ceased to exist. 

'•.ji4S^ " And you tell me that in this perplexing condition, I am to furnish by dint of 

my -own hasty and crude judgment, the legislation demanded by the vast and 
manifold interests of the peoi)le ! I repeat, sir, that you, and not Congress, are 
responsible for the monstrous suggestion that there are no local laws or institutions 
here to he respected by me, outside the acts of Congress. I say unhesitatingly, 
if it were possible that Congress should pass an act abolishing the local codes for 
Louisiana and Texa.s — which I do not believe — and it should fall to my lot to sup- 
ply their places with something of my own, I do not see how I could do better 
than to follow the laws in force here prior to the rebellion, excepting whatever 
therein shall relate to slavery. Power may destroy the forms, but not the princi- 
))les of justice; these will live even in spite of the sword. History tells us that 
the Roman jiandects were lost for a long period among the rubbish that war and 
revolution had heajied upon them, but at length were dug out of the ruins — again 
to be regarded as a priceless treasure." 

It will not do to say of a man who thinks and writes thus, that he is merely 
a soldier, and unacquainted witb our civil institutions. General Hancock here 
displays an intimate and thorough knowledge of the system of State and Fed- 
eral Governments under which we have prospered so gloriously as a nation iu 
the past. We would gladly extract more of this proclamation of free govern- 
ment if space permitted. Here, however, is enough to show the capacity and 
love of country jiosessed by this distinguished geutleman, and to illustrate his 
entire fitness for that exalted position with which his name at this time is so in- 
timately connected. Brilliant as a soldier, and sound and eminent as a civilian, 
General Winfield S. H.^ncock combines all the elements of success at the 
polls, and as President of the United States. 

His name is full of the prestige of victory, and the soldiers of the country will 
I'ally to his support. His record as a civilian commends him to the wisest and 
profoundest thinkers as one well versed in the science of free government. 

We cannot refrain in closing this brief review of General Hancock, from 
noticing the parallel incidents which have occurred alike in the history of that 
preeminent favorite of the American people, Andkew Jackson, and in his own. 
Both distinguished first in the field of arms — both demonstrated their fitness 
and capacity for high civil trusts by their obedience to Law, and their main- 
tenance of American Liberty ; and, as if to still further connect their names 
in the popular mind, New Orleans will forever be associated with their fame, 
and Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, was the first to nomimate General 
Jackson for the Presidency, as it has now done for General Hancock. 

It is for the people to complete the parallel in November. 



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